Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 506. The Heroine's Cloak Stained with Crimson Blood; The Hero's Brown Robe Dyed with Cold Stars.

Shi Feiyang gazed at the "Jade Emperor Peak" stone carving on the cliff face, stained red with blood, when he suddenly heard a clear, ringing sound from the foot of the mountain—it was the "Soul-Searching Bell" of the Sun Moon Sect, indicating that Qu Cheng's people had arrived.

The cypress forest in the Confucius Cemetery in Qufu is filled with the dust of paper money. Shi Feiyang's hemp shirt has been replaced by a scholar's blue robe. The Analects in his hand is actually a city defense map copied by Zhao Qingyi. The strokes of the four characters "governing with virtue" hide the secret code of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Suddenly, the sound of jade pendants clashing came from deep within the Stele Forest. Three people dressed in Song Dynasty official robes emerged from behind Confucius's tombstone. The one in the lead had a jade belt inlaid with a gold fish symbol. He was none other than Tong Guan, the chief eunuch by Emperor Huizong's side.

Tong Guan, his delicate fingers twirling a whisk with seven bone-piercing nails wrapped in its strands, shrieked, “Mr. Shi, what refined taste you have! The Emperor has said that as long as you submit to the Song Dynasty, you can choose any beauty from Jiangnan, far more charming than Tu Pengpeng or Yelü Mingquan of Luoyang.” His voice was as sharp as fingernails scraping glass. Suddenly, the whisk pointed at Shi Feiyang’s throat, and he said menacingly, “If you refuse, this Confucius Forest will be your burial ground.”

Shi Feiyang turned a page of the Analects, and suddenly three silver needles sprang from the edge of the page, grazing Tong Guan's ear and embedding themselves in the tombstone, the ends of the needles still wrapped with the lotus thread of the Beggars' Sect. He said mockingly, "I heard that Eunuch Tong has mastered the 'Sunflower Manual' to the ninth level?" Closing the book, the hem of his blue robe swept across the cypress leaves on the ground, and he sneered again, "What a pity, no matter how powerful the skill, it can't make up for what's been castrated."

Tong Guan's whisk suddenly exploded, and bone-piercing nails shot out like a storm. He cursed, "You're courting death!" The two guards behind him drew their swords at the same time. The "Po Jun Camp" mark on the scabbards was dazzling in the twilight—it was the sword of Wang Bing's subordinate, the one that had been frozen into an ice sculpture by Shi Feiyang outside Bianliang City last year.

Shi Feiyang used his profound "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill to dart and weave through the stele forest. The moment his blue robe swept across the stone tablet, he unleashed the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," using a scroll as a blade to slash with lightning speed, creating a trajectory that seemed to "cleave mountains." The first strike severed the guard's longsword, the second shattered his breastplate, and the third grazed his throat, the blood droplets forming blood-red characters on the plaque inscribed with "Great Sage and Teacher."

Tong Guan's "Sunflower Manual" movement technique was extremely strange. His figure circled behind Shi Feiyang like a ghost, and the steel needles of his whisk had already touched his back.

Shi Feiyang used his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" skill, and his seemingly casual turn caused Tong Guan's steel needles to pierce into his lower abdomen.

Looking at the bloody hole in his abdomen, the eunuch suddenly sneered, "If I die, you won't live either! The imperial guards from Qufu will be here in an incense stick's time!"

Shi Feiyang didn't kill him. He bent down and picked up the Analects from the ground. The bloodstains on his blue robe had been frozen into dark red ice flowers by the cold air of Mingyu Gong. In the distance, the Beggar Clan's "Lotus Flower Ballad" song came—Li Tieniu's men were disguised as a funeral procession and were coming.

The scent of cypress in the Confucius Cemetery in Qufu mingles with the ashes of paper money, weaving a hazy gray net in the twilight.

Just as Shi Feiyang's fingertips touched the cover of the Analects, he heard extremely light footsteps behind him—the footsteps followed the rhythm of "Three Variations on Plum Blossom," clearly the lotus steps of a woman, who was well-versed in the "qi-raising technique" of light-body kung fu.

He didn't turn around. Qingjin swayed slightly in the stele forest, like a green bamboo by the water.

The blood hole in Tong Guan's abdomen was still oozing blood, but it had been frozen by the cold air of Ming Yu Gong and stopped gushing out. The eunuch lay slumped under the plaque of "Great Accomplishment Sage Teacher", looking at the steel needle in his lower abdomen, his eyes half filled with fear and half with resentment.

"Senior!" A clear female voice, tinged with panting, rang out. A figure in a pale white short jacket and a light green cloak emerged from behind two Qing Dynasty stone tablets. He Yao's jade hairpin was tucked diagonally into her hair, a few strands of sweat-dampened hair clung to her smooth forehead, and fine beads of sweat glistened on her nose, making her look like a deer that had just finished a long run. The Tai Chi sword in her hand was still trembling slightly, the green bead on the tassel swaying gently with her breath.

Shi Feiyang then slowly turned around, the shadow of his straw hat falling on his face, revealing only his well-defined jawline.

He looked at the new wound on He Yao's shoulder—clearly from chasing the Jin soldiers all the way here. Through the tear in the light green cloak, the hem of the moon-white short jacket was revealed, and the orchids embroidered on it were stained with blood, looking as if they were covered with morning dew.

"Why are you here?" Shi Feiyang's voice was devoid of emotion as his gaze fell on her hands, which were gripping the sword hilt tightly. Her hands were slender and fair, but her knuckles were a faint pink from the force she was using, clearly the result of years of sword practice.

He Yao bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushing red like ripe apples. She took out an oil paper package from her bosom, carefully opened it, and inside were several steamed buns that were still warm.

She said gently, "Senior, I saw that the pancake shop down the mountain was about to close, so I bought a few. You...you must be hungry too."

Her voice grew softer and softer, the last few words barely audible, but her eyes shone brightly as she looked at Shi Feiyang, like a child waiting for praise.

Just then, Tong Guan suddenly let out a sharp laugh, breaking the tranquility of the Stele Forest: "Well, so you're a pair of illicit lovers! Shi Feiyang, do you think you can escape my grasp just because you saved this little brat? The Imperial Guards from Qufu will be here soon, and none of you will get away!"

As he spoke, he tried to move his body closer to the stone tablet beside him, as if he wanted to ask for help.

Upon hearing this, He Yao frowned, gripped her Tai Chi sword tightly, glared at Tong Guan, and cursed, "You eunuch, stop spouting nonsense!" She then raised her sword to attack. Shi Feiyang gently pressed down on He Yao's arm and shook his head at her.

Then, Shi Feiyang looked at Tong Guan and said coldly, "Tong Guan, do you think you can keep me here with those Imperial Guards? I'll spare your life for now, but if you dare to talk nonsense again, don't blame me for being merciless."

Tong Guan trembled at Shi Feiyang's gaze and dared not utter another sound, only staring fiercely at them.

Shi Feiyang ignored Tong Guan and turned to He Yao, saying, "Young lady, this place is not safe to stay any longer. Let's leave first."

He Yao nodded and obediently followed behind Shi Feiyang. The two used their lightness skills and quickly disappeared into the twilight of the Kong Forest.

After leaving the Confucius Cemetery, Shi Feiyang led He Yao to an abandoned ancient temple.

The Buddha statues in the ancient temple are already mottled and covered with cobwebs, but fortunately they can still provide shelter from the wind and rain.

Shi Feiyang found a relatively clean corner to sit down, while He Yao stood obediently to the side, holding a few steamed buns in her hands, her eyes full of expectation. "Senior," He Yao hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I know my Tai Chi sword is not very good. Could you please give me some pointers?"

Shi Feiyang glanced at her and slowly said, "Tai Chi Sword is the ultimate martial art of our time, emphasizing using softness to overcome hardness and stillness to control movement. When you were dealing with those guards in Konglin just now, your sword moves were too fierce and you lost the essence of Tai Chi Sword."

Upon hearing this, He Yao's eyes lit up, and she quickly said, "Please enlighten me, senior!"

Shi Feiyang nodded, picked up a dry branch from the ground, and said, "The Nine Yin Manual says: 'Taiji is born from Wuji, the mechanism of movement and stillness, the mother of Yin and Yang.' The key to Taiji sword lies in its smoothness, continuity, and uninterrupted flow. Watch carefully."

As he spoke, Shi Feiyang held a dry branch and began to demonstrate the basic moves of Tai Chi sword.

His movements, though seemingly slow, contained boundless power. The withered branch in his hand seemed to transform into a true Tai Chi sword, sometimes flowing smoothly like clouds and water, sometimes raging like a storm. He Yao watched intently, afraid of missing a single detail.

She followed Shi Feiyang's movements, silently memorizing the key points of each move.

After Shi Feiyang finished demonstrating a set of sword techniques, he stopped and said to He Yao, "You give it a try." He Yao took a deep breath, held the Tai Chi sword, and slowly began to practice according to Shi Feiyang's instructions.

At first, her movements were a bit stiff, but with Shi Feiyang’s constant corrections, she gradually found her footing and her swordplay became smoother.

“Not bad,” Shi Feiyang nodded and praised, “You have great comprehension. But remember, Tai Chi sword training is not only about practicing the form, but also about practicing the spirit. Only when there is no sword in your heart can you have a sword in your hand.”

He Yao nodded as if she understood, her eyes showing even more admiration for Shi Feiyang.

In the days that followed, He Yao stayed by Shi Feiyang's side.

She pestered Shi Feiyang to teach her swordsmanship every day, and Shi Feiyang had no choice but to agree because of her persistence.

Throughout the journey, He Yao always wore that moon-white short-sleeved outfit, covered by a light green cloak. Her jade hairpin was still inserted diagonally in her hair, swaying gently with her movements. Sunlight shone on her face, revealing fine downy hairs, and her eyes, like clear spring water, sparkled with a lively light.

Shi Feiyang was always very patient when teaching her swordsmanship.

He would correct her movements again and again, explaining the essentials of Tai Chi sword. He Yao studied very diligently and made rapid progress. During a break, He Yao looked at Shi Feiyang's focused profile and suddenly felt her heart race. She quickly lowered her head, her cheeks flushing.

"Senior," He Yao mustered her courage and said, "when we arrive at our destination, could you teach me some more sword techniques?"

Shi Feiyang glanced at her and said, "As long as you are willing to learn, I will teach you."

Upon hearing this, He Yao's face lit up with a bright smile, like a blooming peach blossom.

That day, the two went to an inn to rest.

I had barely sat down when I heard a commotion outside.

It turned out that a group of Jin soldiers were causing trouble outside the inn and oppressing the people.

Upon seeing this, He Yao gripped the Tai Chi sword in her hand tightly, her eyes filled with anger.

Shi Feiyang patted her on the shoulder and said, "Take it easy."

After a while, the Jin soldiers stormed into the inn. The leader of the Jin soldiers saw He Yao, his eyes lit up, and he said, "What a beautiful young lady! Come with us, and we'll make sure you live a life of luxury!" As he spoke, he reached out to grab He Yao.

He Yao snorted coldly, holding the Tai Chi sword, and began to practice the sword techniques that Shi Feiyang had taught her.

Her swordplay was fluid and continuous, using softness to overcome hardness, and she quickly repelled the Jin soldier.

Seeing this, the other Jin soldiers drew their swords and rushed forward. He Yao was fearless and engaged in fierce combat with the Jin soldiers. Her Tai Chi sword weaved through the Jin soldiers like a white lightning bolt, sometimes attacking their vitals, sometimes defending flawlessly.

Shi Feiyang stood aside, watching He Yao's swordsmanship, and nodded in satisfaction.

He knew that He Yao had almost mastered the essence of Tai Chi sword.

In the midst of the fierce battle, a Jin soldier ambushed He Yao from behind. Shi Feiyang reacted swiftly, grabbing a chopstick from the table and hurling it at the soldier. The chopstick, like an arrow, struck the soldier's wrist with deadly accuracy. The soldier screamed, and his long sword fell to the ground.

Taking advantage of the moment, He Yao turned and thrust her sword into the chest of the Jin soldier. The other Jin soldiers, seeing this, were too frightened to advance. He Yao snorted coldly and said, "Get lost!" The Jin soldier, as if granted a pardon, hurriedly helped his wounded comrade up and fled in a sorry state.

The people in the inn thanked He Yao one after another. He Yao smiled shyly, looked at Shi Feiyang, and her eyes were full of gratitude.

Shi Feiyang said, "Your swordsmanship has improved again."

He Yao blushed slightly and said, "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, senior."

After leaving the inn, the two continued their journey. That day, they entered a dense forest. They hadn't gone far when they heard a strange noise coming from their surroundings.

Shi Feiyang and He Yao exchanged a glance, becoming more alert. Soon, a group of men in black rushed out of the dense forest, each wielding a sharp blade and with fierce eyes.

He Yao said nervously, "It's Tong Guan's men!" She recognized the leader of the men in black as Tong Guan's bodyguard.

Shi Feiyang said, "Be careful." With that, the two engaged in a fierce battle with the men in black. He Yao, wielding a Tai Chi sword, fought several men in black. Her swordsmanship became increasingly refined, sometimes as graceful as a gentle breeze rustling willows, sometimes as fierce as a tiger descending a mountain, forcing the men in black to retreat steadily.

Shi Feiyang, meanwhile, was dealing with the leading group of experts. He unleashed the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," using his palms as blades, the wind howling around him, each move carrying an overwhelming force. The weapons of the men in black were utterly useless against him, shattering one after another.

During the fierce battle, a man in black suddenly resorted to a dirty trick, throwing a poisoned dart at He Yao. Seeing this, Shi Feiyang quickly used his "Flower Shifting Jade" skill to redirect the poisoned dart towards a nearby tree. The dart embedded itself deeply in the trunk, which quickly withered.

He Yao was startled and quickly thanked Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang said, "Focus on fighting the enemy."

The two worked together seamlessly and quickly repelled all the men in black. Seeing the men lying on the ground, He Yao breathed a sigh of relief and said to Shi Feiyang, "Thank you for saving me, senior." Shi Feiyang replied, "It was nothing. It seems Tong Guan won't let this go easily; we must be careful."

He Yao nodded, her eyes filled with determination. She knew that as long as Shi Feiyang was by her side, she wouldn't be afraid no matter what danger they encountered. After days of fierce fighting, the two came to rest by a lake.

The lake water is crystal clear, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds, and the surrounding area is shaded by green trees, making for a very beautiful environment.

He Yao sat by the lake, gazing at her reflection in the water, lost in thought. She recalled the swordsmanship Shi Feiyang had taught her, and his words, "Only when the heart has no sword can the hand wield one." At that moment, Shi Feiyang walked to her side and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

He Yao raised her head, looked at Shi Feiyang, and said, "Senior, I think I understand the true meaning of Tai Chi Sword. Tai Chi Sword is not only a martial art, but also a state of mind. It teaches us to overcome strength with softness, to control movement with stillness, and to understand tolerance and yielding." Shi Feiyang nodded and said, "It's good that you understand. The highest level of martial arts is not defeating others, but defeating yourself."

He Yao nodded thoughtfully, her eyes filled with admiration and adoration as she looked at Shi Feiyang. "Senior," He Yao said, mustering her courage, "wherever you go, I want to follow you. I want to learn swordsmanship from you forever, to follow you..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but Shi Feiyang already understood what she meant.

He looked at He Yao with a complicated expression. He knew he still had many things to do and couldn't make any promises to her.

Shi Feiyang was silent for a moment, then said, "He Yao, I still have many things to do, and the road ahead is full of dangers. You should go back, back to your Tai Chi Sword Sect, that's where you belong." He Yao's tears instantly streamed down her face. She shook her head and said, "I won't go back! I want to follow you! No matter how dangerous it is, I'm not afraid!"

Looking into her determined eyes, Shi Feiyang's heart stirred. He knew he couldn't persuade this stubborn young girl. "Alright," Shi Feiyang sighed, "Since you insist on coming with me, then come. But you must promise me that you will take good care of yourself."

Upon hearing this, He Yao smiled through her tears, nodded, and said, "I will! Thank you, senior!"

Sunlight streamed onto the lakeside, bathing the two of them in warmth and comfort. He Yao knew that her life would be different because of this decision. Watching Shi Feiyang's retreating figure, her heart was filled with anticipation and longing.

After resting for a few days, the two continued their journey and arrived at a town.

The town was bustling with people. The two found an inn to stay in, intending to replenish their supplies there.

However, they had only been settled in for a short time when they heard a commotion outside.

It turned out that Tong Guan had brought the Imperial Guards to this town and was searching for their whereabouts.

Upon hearing the news, He Yao couldn't help but feel nervous.

Shi Feiyang comforted her, saying, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

The two quickly packed their things, intending to leave the inn.

But as soon as they reached the door, they were stopped by the Imperial Guards. "Who are you?" the head of the guards asked. Shi Feiyang replied, "We are merchants passing through, and we wish to leave this place."

The imperial guards looked them up and down and said, "Eunuch Tong said that all suspicious persons will be searched. You will come with us."

He Yao said, "We're not suspicious, why should we go with you?" The Imperial Guard replied, "Enough nonsense! If you don't cooperate, don't blame us for being impolite!"

As they spoke, the Imperial Guards moved forward to seize them. Shi Feiyang and He Yao exchanged a glance, knowing that a fierce battle was inevitable.

Shi Feiyang said, "He Yao, be careful."

He Yao nodded.

The Imperial Guards swarmed forward, and Shi Feiyang and He Yao quickly engaged in battle.

The narrow streets and alleys made it difficult for the Imperial Guards to launch an offensive, which gave Shi Feiyang and He Yao an opportunity.

He Yao, wielding the Tai Chi sword, weaved through the Imperial Guards like a white lightning bolt. Her swordsmanship grew increasingly refined, sometimes attacking the lower body of the guards, sometimes their upper body, making them impossible to defend against.

Shi Feiyang then unleashed the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms," his palm strikes whistling through the air, each move carrying immense power.

The imperial guards were sent flying by his palm strikes, screaming in agony.

During the fierce battle, Tong Guan arrived from afar. He looked at Shi Feiyang and He Yao with eyes full of resentment and venom.

He shouted, "Charge! Whoever captures them will be richly rewarded!" Encouraged, the imperial guards charged even more frantically towards Shi Feiyang and He Yao. However, Shi Feiyang and He Yao cooperated perfectly and were not at a disadvantage at all.

He Yao stabbed a guard in the wrist with her sword, snatched the spear from his hand, and threw it at Tong Guan.

Tong Guan was so frightened that he quickly dodged, but the spear grazed his cheek and embedded itself in the wall.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shi Feiyang used his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" skill to redirect the attack of several imperial guards to a nearby shop.

The shop's doors were smashed to pieces, and the goods inside were scattered all over the floor. The Imperial Guards suffered heavy casualties and dared not go any further.

Tong Guan looked at the scene before him, trembling with anger, but there was nothing he could do. He knew he had lost again today.

"Let's go!" Tong Guan ordered angrily, glaring at Shi Feiyang and He Yao before leading the remaining Imperial Guards away in a sorry state.

Watching Tong Guan's departing figure, He Yao breathed a sigh of relief and said to Shi Feiyang, "Senior, we've finally gotten rid of them." Shi Feiyang nodded and said, "This place is not safe to stay any longer. Let's leave as soon as possible."

The two packed their things and left the town.

After leaving the town, the two entered a valley. The valley was treacherous, with jagged rocks and a profound silence, giving it a somewhat eerie feel.

Suddenly, a rain of arrows came from both sides of the valley, dense arrows shooting towards them like raindrops. Shi Feiyang and He Yao quickly used their lightness skills to dodge, the arrows hitting the ground with a "whoosh" sound.

"It's an ambush by the Jin soldiers!" He Yao shouted. Shi Feiyang said, "Be careful!" The two dodged the rain of arrows as they rushed deeper into the valley. Jin soldiers emerged from behind the rocks on both sides of the valley, wielding sharp blades, and pounced on them.

He Yao, wielding a Tai Chi sword, engaged in a fierce battle with the Jin soldiers.

Her swordsmanship was agile and graceful, allowing her to move freely among the Jin soldiers and defeat them decisively.

Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Hundred Victories Saber Technique," using his palm as a saber, his palm winds fierce, each move capable of knocking down a group of Jin soldiers.

As soon as the Jin soldiers' weapons got close to him, they were pulled in by a powerful suction force.

During the fierce battle, a Jin general wielding a large sword slashed at Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang remained calm and unhurried, unleashing the "Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms" technique, specifically the "Regretful Dragon" move. The palm wind collided with the blade wind, producing a loud bang. The Jin general was shaken back several steps, his hands and feet going numb.

Seeing this, He Yao seized the opportunity and thrust her sword into the chest of the Jin general. The Jin general screamed and fell to the ground.

Seeing this, the other Jin soldiers retreated in fear. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shi Feiyang and He Yao broke out of the Jin soldiers' ambush and ran out of the valley.

After running out of the valley, the two of them breathed a sigh of relief.

He Yao looked at Shi Feiyang and said, "Senior, thank you so much for today." Shi Feiyang smiled but didn't say anything.

He Yao felt a warmth in her heart as she watched Shi Feiyang's retreating figure, her heart filled with happiness and contentment. After days of travel and fierce battles, Shi Feiyang and He Yao finally arrived at their destination—Yimeng Mountain.

The summit of Yimeng Mountain is covered with a half-foot-thick layer of pine resin, which gleams with an amber light under the blazing sun.

Shi Feiyang's animal-hide coat was stained with mud from the mountain path, and the poisoned arrows in his quiver swayed slightly. The sap of the "Seven-Star Begonia" on the arrowheads shimmered with a purplish-black light in the sunlight, much like the occasional sharp glint in his eyes.

He Yao stood half a step behind him. The cuffs of her moon-white short jacket were stuck with resin, and when the hem of her water-green cloak swept across the ground, a few grains of gold dust were caught in the fine dust it stirred up—these were the eggs of the Five Poisons Sect's "Golden Silkworm Gu," which would hatch when exposed to heat.

“Senior, this scent…” He Yao’s fingertips trembled slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared at her temples beneath the jade hairpin. She could feel the strange fragrance in the air carrying a pungent sweetness, and when she inhaled it, it felt like countless fine needles were pricking her lungs. The green beads on the tassel of the Tai Chi sword had been stained with a faint bluish-black.

Shi Feiyang didn't turn around, but the Mingyu Gong technique under his animal skin coat was quietly activated. A layer of invisible cold air spread from his heels, enveloping He Yao. The cold air met the beads of sweat on her temples and instantly condensed into tiny ice crystals, which fell to the ground along with the gold dust around her, making a soft "crackling" sound, like ice grains thawing in early spring.

"Hold your breath and use your inner strength to protect your heart meridian." His voice carried a smile, but it also contained an undeniable concern. "The Five Poisons Sect's 'Drunken Immortal Incense' will make people swallow their own tongues like snake gallbladders if they smell it too much."

Before the words were even finished, seven colorful figures had already emerged from the dense forest, the sound of their skirts brushing against the resinous layer like silkworms munching on mulberry leaves.

The leader, Lan Fengye, wore a peacock-blue gauze dress, the hem embroidered with a hundred poison patterns in gold thread. With each tinkling of the silver bells on her gold hairpin, the golden ringed snake on her wrist flicked its tongue. Her eyebrows and eyes exuded a seductive charm, but her gaze towards Shi Feiyang was like a poisoned dagger, both ruthless and clingy.

"Shi Lang does know how to be considerate," Lan Fengye said sarcastically, her nails painted with henna as she lightly scraped the scales on the snake staff. She then mocked, "This little brat hasn't even mastered the Tai Chi sword technique yet, but she dares to venture into my 'Ten Thousand Poisons Cave'?"

The six cultists behind her simultaneously lifted their hats, revealing hideous snake tattoos on their faces. The poisoned darts in their hands gleamed blue in the sunlight. They threatened, "Why don't you let her stay and be my guinea pig for poison testing? I'll forgive your trespassing today, how about that?"

He Yao suddenly raised her Tai Chi sword, the tip pointing directly at Lan Fengye's brow. The veins on the back of her hand bulged slightly as she angrily rebuked, "Witch, stop talking nonsense! How could a disciple of my Tai Chi Sword Sect be afraid of your unorthodox methods!" Although her voice trembled, each word was clear and bright, like a mountain stream hitting a blue stone.

Shi Feiyang suddenly chuckled, the sound echoing across the mountain peak and startling several sparrows hiding in the crevices of the rocks. He drew a poisoned arrow, twirled the tip between his fingers, and said mockingly, "Last year in Dali, Leader Lan said that whoever could cure your 'Bone-Dissolving Powder' poison would become your concubine."

His gaze swept over the golden ringed snake on her wrist, and he suddenly quickened his pace, saying sarcastically, "What? Now that you've seen the love token snake that Duan Zhengzhong gave you, you've forgotten what you said?"

Lan Fengye's face flushed red instantly, then turned ashen. The golden hairpin stopped abruptly, the silver bells rang shrilly, and she roared, "Insolence!"

Suddenly, she slammed her snake staff into the ground, and the golden-ringed snake shot towards Shi Feiyang's face like an arrow. The venom spurting from its mouth turned into a green line in the sunlight, and it said menacingly, "Is it any of your business, you Tang dog, to interfere in the affairs of Prince Duan? Today I will let you taste the pain of 'ten thousand poisons devouring the heart'!"

When the golden-ringed snake was still three feet away from the rock, it suddenly froze in mid-air.

Ming Yugong's chilling aura had condensed into an ice wall in front of him, freezing the snake's body until it was completely transparent, making even the blood vessels at its seven-inch mark clearly visible.

Lan Fengye's pupils contracted sharply. She had never seen such a bizarre internal energy. When ordinary martial artists circulate their energy, their aura is released outwards, but this person's cold energy seemed to have a life of its own, circulating only within three inches of his body, and even sunlight could not penetrate it.

"Sixth Sister! Weave the web!" Lan Fengye suddenly shouted. Her gauze skirt billowed up, and thirty-six poison needles shot out from hidden pockets in the hem, weaving a green net in the air. The six cultists behind her simultaneously threw out poison darts, the colorful ribbons at the ends of the darts intertwining in the air, surrounding Shi Feiyang and He Yao in the center. The poisonous spiders in the mesh of the web were as big as fists, and the silk they spun landed on the resin layer, instantly corroding it with countless tiny holes.

He Yao used her Tai Chi sword to perform a "cloud hand" move, attempting to pry away the approaching poisonous spider, but unexpectedly, the spider silk could stick to the sword blade, tightening more and more.

Her cheeks flushed red with anxiety, and her jade hairpin tilted to one side. As she watched a poisonous spider crawl along its silk toward the hilt of her sword, she closed her eyes tightly in fright.

Just then, Shi Feiyang suddenly grabbed her wrist with his left hand.

His palms were icy cold, carrying the unique chill of Mingyu Gong. That chill traveled along her meridians, instantly freezing the spider silk on the sword blade.

He whispered, “Tai Chi sword emphasizes ‘leading the opponent into emptiness’.” With a flick of his finger, He Yao’s wrist involuntarily turned, and the Tai Chi sword suddenly drew a smooth arc, lifting the poisonous spider and its web into the air.

He further advised, "To deal with such insidious things, one should act like a spring breeze across a lake, rather than confronting them head-on."

At the same time, he drew three poisoned arrows with his right hand. The bowstring vibrated, and the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique" used the bow as a blade, drawing the trajectory of the ultimate killing move "Severing the Horizon." The three poisoned arrows suddenly forked in mid-air, each arrow piercing the heart of the poisonous spider with precision. The feathers at the end of the arrows, along with the spider's corpse, crashed into the colorful silk net.

With a few hissing sounds, the venom inside the spider corroded the colorful silk, and the poisonous web instantly tore open with a large hole.

"Senior!" He Yao said in a trembling voice, her heart pounding like a drum. Shi Feiyang's fingertips were still on her wrist, the icy touch coming through her pale white short coat, reminding her of the hand warmer her mother used to warm her hands when she was a child, only this "hand warmer" carried a terrifying power. She saw that the cuffs of his animal skin coat were stained with the green blood of poisonous spiders, but it froze into ice the moment it touched his skin, then fell off in a flurry, leaving not a trace.

Lan Fengye's golden hairpin suddenly emitted a shrill sound, and she herself transformed into a colorful shadow and pounced, striking Shi Feiyang's chest with her "Five Poisons Divine Palm." The exotic fragrance in the palm wind suddenly became stronger.

He Yao suddenly had a hallucination—countless venomous snakes crawled out of Shi Feiyang's animal skin coat and were opening their mouths to bite his throat.

"Watch out!" He Yao cried out in alarm. Without thinking, she lunged forward to push Shi Feiyang away, but he grabbed her waist instead. Shi Feiyang used the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" technique with his left palm and right sleeve to redirect Lan Fengye's palm force toward the rock wall beside him.

"Boom!" The palm strike corroded a hole more than ten feet deep into the stone wall, and rubble mixed with green venom splattered everywhere.

"Silly girl." Shi Feiyang's laughter rang in her ear, warm and domineering, "These little tricks can't hurt me."

His arm was tightly wrapped around her waist, as if afraid she would be hurt by the flying shards. His other hand had already drawn the dagger from his waist. The ice patterns on the dagger flowed in the sunlight. It was an ice blade frozen by Mingyu Gong.

He Yao's cheek was pressed against his animal skin coat, and she could smell the pine resin mixed with a faint scent of blood, yet her heart felt as sweet as if it had been soaked in honey. She knew that her actions just now had been reckless, but she couldn't help wanting to protect this person who always put himself in danger.

She secretly glanced up and saw the distinct lines of his profile under his straw hat, the silver ring on his left ear shimmering in the sunlight. Suddenly, she felt that even if she died here right now, she would be willing to do so.

After Lan Fengye's "Five Poisons Palm" was diverted, her waist under her gauze skirt suddenly twisted, and thirty-six poison needles shot out from her neckline, targeting the unsuspecting He Yao. She had calculated that Shi Feiyang would protect this little girl, and this was the moment he would reveal his weakness.

Just as she expected, Shi Feiyang spun around and dodged while holding He Yao. The hem of his animal skin coat was torn by the poisoned needle, revealing the dragon pattern embroidery on his blue shirt underneath.

In that instant, Lan Fengye's snake staff suddenly struck the ground, and the golden ringed snake, which had been frozen into an ice sculpture, suddenly came to life, opening its mouth to bite Shi Feiyang's ankle—it turned out that she had just applied "ice-dissolving powder" to the snake's scales, which was specifically designed to break through extremely yin and cold internal energy.

Shi Feiyang snorted coldly and suddenly unleashed "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder". The cold energy of Mingyu Gong suddenly transformed into lightning, which traveled along his ankle. As soon as the golden ring snake touched his skin, it let out a shrill hiss and its body exploded instantly. Blood and flesh splattered on the resin layer and ignited with ghostly blue flames.

He suddenly tightened his grip on He Yao, pulling her into the air. He unleashed a powerful palm strike, "Flying Dragon in the Sky," the force of the blow transforming into a golden dragon that crashed into Lan Fengye's chest. Lan Fengye's gauze skirt shattered under the force of the blow, revealing her snow-white undergarment embroidered with the camellia emblem of the Dali Duan family.

She stared at the half of the He Shi Bi jade exposed on Shi Feiyang's chest, her pupils suddenly dilating as if she had seen something unbelievable.

"You... what are you to Yelü Shihan?" Lan Fengye's voice trembled as the gold hairpin fell to the ground, the silver bell emitting its final mournful cry. She remembered ten years ago in the Dali Palace, when Duan Zhengzhong held the He Shi Bi jade, saying he would give it to his future daughter-in-law. At that time, she had secretly vowed to make the jade pendant her own.

Shi Feiyang did not answer, but instead used the silver threads of his "Heavenly Silkworm Technique" to bind her meridians. The silvery-white threads traveled along her arms, gradually severing her internal energy. Black blood slowly seeped from the corner of Lan Fengye's mouth, her eyes filled with resentment and despair.

“Tell Duan Zhengzhong,” Shi Feiyang tossed half of the He Shi Bi jade to her, swept his animal-skin coat over the poisonous corpses on the ground, and lectured, “If he dares to make a move on my daughter-in-law again, I’ll tear down his Dali Palace and turn all his camellias into poisonous weeds.”

His gaze fell on He Yao, and seeing that the sweat on her temples had dried, he released his hand from her waist. The coldness in his tone melted instantly, and he asked with concern, "Were you frightened?" He Yao shook her head, then nodded, and the Tai Chi sword in her hand suddenly fell to the ground.

She rushed over and hugged Shi Feiyang's arm, the light green cloak wrapping them together. "Senior, you were so amazing just now!" Her voice trembled with tears, which fell like broken pearls onto his fur coat. She choked out, "I thought... I thought you would be bitten by a snake..."

Shi Feiyang was both amused and exasperated by her hug. He wanted to push her away but was afraid of hurting her, so he could only let her hold him. He saw that her earlobes under the jade hairpin were as red as cherries, and he knew that this little girl was really worried about him. A warm feeling he had never felt before welled up in his heart.

"Silly girl," he reached out to straighten the jade hairpin for her, his fingertips accidentally brushing against her earlobe. He Yao recoiled as if burned, but didn't loosen her grip on his arm. He said domineeringly, "Who am I? How could I be hurt by a mere little snake?"

Just then, a clear, melodious sound of jade pendants came from the dense forest, and a young girl dressed in a pale yellow dress came out carrying a food box.

Her hair was adorned with seven pearl hairpins, which made a melodious sound as she took each step. She was none other than Guo Biyu from the Emei Sect.

"Brother Shi! I brought you your favorite osmanthus cake!" Her voice was sickeningly sweet. When she saw He Yao next to Shi Feiyang, a hint of jealousy flashed in her eyes, but she quickly put on a smile and said, "Who is this little sister? She's really pretty."

When He Yao saw someone coming, she quickly let go of Shi Feiyang's arm, her cheeks as red as ripe apples. She looked at the food box in Guo Biyu's hand, which was made of fine sandalwood and engraved with "To Brother Feiyang". Suddenly, she felt a pang of sadness, like she had eaten an unripe plum.

Guo Biyu, however, seemed oblivious to her predicament and walked straight to Shi Feiyang, opening the food box.

The osmanthus cake inside was still steaming, and its aroma instantly overpowered the poisonous smell in the air.

"Brother Shi, I got up at three in the morning to make this. I put in lots of osmanthus flowers. Would you like to try some?" she said affectionately, picking up a piece of osmanthus cake and holding it to Shi Feiyang's lips, her eyes overflowing with affection.

Then, she added affectionately, "I know you like sweets, so I added two extra spoonfuls of honey."

(End of this chapter)